Counties Manukau vs Waikato
Counties welcome Waikato in this Bunnings NPC contest. The home side have made a poor start to their season after losing their opening two matches, including a mid-week defeat to the Bay of Plenty. The visitors are also looking for their first win of the season after losing in the opening round., also to Bay of Plenty. Counties are still missing the services of their star winger Etene Nanai-Seturo who is out injured. They have sorely missed his speed in their attack. Waikato have no shortage of speed in their backline with the likes Joshua Moorby and Gideon Wrampling.
TIP: Counties have had very poor starts in their opening two matches before finding their scoring boots in the second half. They will need to start better or they could be facing three straight defeats. Waikato have one of the most potent backlines in the competition with All Black Quinn Tupaea leading the charge. This match will be decided in the forwards with Waikato holding the slight edge in this area. The bookies have the Waikato as favorites and I am also backing them for the win. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Tictacbets 1.16, Betway 1.16 and Bettabets 1.16
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS
Counties Manukau vs Waikato
- Waikato have won the last five matches between the sides.
- The last time Counties beat Waikato was in 2016.
Latest results for both teams
Counties Manukau lost 44-31 to Bay of plenty in their last match while Waikato lost 36-21 to Bay of Plenty in their last match.
PREDICTION
Counties will be hoping that the changes that they made will have a positive impact in this match. The key selection is at flyhalf where AJ Alatimu gets his first start alongside the impressive Jonathan Taumateine. If the latter can continue with his sniping runs near the rucks then his side will get that much needed boost in attack. Waikato will be looking to their experienced props Ollie Norris and George Dyer to get them the advantage in the scrums. If the visitors can get a good platform, then they will be very hard to stop. I am predicting an away win by 10 points.
Probable Starting
Counties Manukau
15 Simon-Peter Toleafoa, 14 Josh Gray, 13 Blake Makiri, 12 Gibson Popoali’i, 11 Peniasi Malimali, 10 AJ Alatimu, 09 Jonathan Taumateine, 08 Hoskins Sotutu, 07 Adam Brash, 06 Leo Ngatai-Tafau, 05 James Thompson, 04 Jimmy Tupou, 03 Suetena Asomua, 02 Zuriel Togiatama, 01 Kauvaka Kaivelata
Waikato
15 Joshua Moorby, 14 Newton Tudreu, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Gideon Wrampling, 10 D’Angelo Leuila, 09 Xavier Roe, 08 Patrick McCarran, 07 Oli Mathis, 06 Malachi Wrampling-Alec, 05 Laghlan McWhannell, 04 James Tucker, 03 George Dyer, 02 Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, 01 Ollie Norris
Odds for this bet
The best odds on the Waikato victory are as follows:
Tictacbets 1.16
Betway 1.16
Bettabets 1.16
Odds comparison on the Counties Manukau handicap:
The complete odds on the Counties Manukau handicap:
Tictacbets 1.90 (+14.5)
Betway 1.87 (+14.5)
Bettabets 1.89 (+14.5)
Predictions and Odds in details
There are poor odds on the Waikato outright win therefore we suggest the home team on the handicap for better odds. The best odds on this bet are as follows: Tictacbets 1.90 (+14.5), Betway 1.87 (+14.5) and Bettabets 1.89 (+14.5)
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Sports crazy fan that follows all major sport but the game with the oval ball is my real passion. Was an age level rugby coach and a huge supporter of the Springboks and diehard Liverpool man. I’m an experienced punter and sports writer whose predictions/tips are sure to stir up the emotions. I love the occasional wager on the underdog.
